"The Cult of Summer" – Available On SuperRare

Written By David Masters

I can’t stand summer. It rolls in like a grim reaper with a tan, swinging humidity and sunshine like a meat cleaver. The air turns thick, sticky - like breathing through a mold-rotted rag - and suddenly everyone’s joined a cult of sun worshippers, chanting the gospel of “good vibes” under that leering, golden stare. Warm weather isn’t a mood for me; it’s an insane asylum. Stepping into the humidity is like wading through a swamp of regret, my skin screaming in revolt. People gush about escaping winter’s chill, but my soul wilts at the first daisy’s bloom. No reverse sun lamp can trick my brain into craving crisp, overcast days - I’m trapped in this oven season, stewing in sweat-soaked dread.

 

The real sting is the isolation. Summer’s a sacred festival, and if you don’t buy the hype, you’re the glitch. Friends squint at me like I’m broken when I ditch their picnics or lake days, pushing “give it a chance” like an intervention ambush. As if UV rays could rewire my brain. I’m not defective - I just don’t find joy in roasting alive while forcing a grin. Your melanoma trail run is my personal hell; I’d rather barricade myself indoors, tweaking a recipe or lost in a book, the A/C purring at a glorious 62 degrees.

 

While you’re chasing tans, turning into leather handbags and mosquito buffets at your eerie picnic, I’ll be here, shades drawn, sipping iced coffee like it’s liquid sanity, counting down to autumn. Don’t stop inviting me - I want to hang - but pitch a dim coffee shop over a sweltering barbecue. I’d rather not bleed sweat onto my plate or fend off sunburns and bugs. Summer might be your holy season, but for me, thriving is cooler, darker, and entirely my own.

 

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"The Cult of Summer" – Available On SuperRare
"The Cult of Summer" – Available On SuperRare

 I can’t stand summer. It rolls in like a grim reaper with a tan, swinging humidity and sunshine like a meat cleaver. The air turns thick, sticky - like breathing through a mold-rotted rag - and suddenly everyone’s joined a cult of sun worshippers, chanting the gospel of “good vibes” under that leering, golden stare.

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"Neon Diaries" – Available On SuperRare
"Neon Diaries" – Available On SuperRare

Neon Diaries is a visual metaphor - every artwork I create is born from a personal story, much like ink spilled in a private journal. But unlike hidden pages, my art lays bare my deepest thoughts for all to see. In Neon Diaries, she is surrounded by floating electric monitors. Each glowing screen reveals a distinct futuristic journal entry - a metaphor for the way all my artwork tells stories. And this piece, in particular, explains how I came to that style of creating.

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"Broken ≠ Worthless" – SOLD
"Broken ≠ Worthless" – SOLD

Broken ≠ Worthless is a raw, surreal tribute to the discarded and misunderstood - both people and things - woven from personal grief, fractured memories, and the quiet resilience of unexpected connection. It traces a journey from childhood love and loss to adult abandonment and isolation, where even a beloved collie becomes a casualty of life's unraveling. In the quiet wreckage, a bond forms with a wary street dog, slowly rebuilding trust and revealing that even the most shattered souls still crave - and deserve - love. The accompanying artwork crowns this truth in defiance: a figure seated in sovereignty over her chaos, flanked by symbols of loyalty and pain, declaring that what society calls trash can still blaze with meaning.

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“Patience” – SOLD
“Patience” – SOLD

Patience is the art of hoping. - Luc de Clapiers

‘Patience’ is a deeply symbolic piece that reflects my personal journey as an artist and the resilience required to endure life's uncertainties. At its heart is a woman seated at a rusted piano, overgrown with vines and worn by time—a powerful metaphor for the passage of years and the patience needed to create something meaningful. The woman herself is not untouched by time; rust and vines creep across her form, merging her with her surroundings and underscoring the transformative effects of persistence and struggle.

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Echoes of Funland - SOLD
Echoes of Funland - SOLD

“Echoes of Funland” is a surreal reflection of a childhood memory that lingers like a half-forgotten dream - a traveling carnival I visited at eight years old, a place where wonder curdled into fear. Under the neon glow of a crescent moon, the fair seemed alive with magic: the Ferris wheel spun like a portal to the stars, carousel horses pranced in endless circles, and music drifted through the air like whispers from another world. But beneath the flashing lights and painted smiles, something felt off. The rides groaned with age, carnival prizes were tattered and forgotten, and laughter had an eerie, hollow ring.

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"Satirical Inferno" – NOT MINTED
"Satirical Inferno" – NOT MINTED

Step into Satirical Inferno, where childhood innocence collides with the chaos of adulthood. Created by Surreal24seven, this piece features a large woman made from paper mache at its center. Her intense gaze pulls us into the narrative of transformation, as behind her, childhood icons like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald Duck are depicted in stark white—stripped of their usual colors. These familiar characters now engage in adult behaviors: Donald smoking weed, Minnie and Mickey drinking, surrounded by cash and guns. The contrast highlights how childhood ideals are reshaped by the adult world.

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"Never Forgotten" – SOLD
"Never Forgotten" – SOLD

‘Never Forgotten’ is a profoundly personal artwork that captures the enduring bond between a mother and child, transcending the boundaries of life and death. Inspired by Mary Elizabeth Frye’s poignant poem ‘Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep,’ this piece explores themes of loss, memory, and spiritual connection, offering a heartfelt reminder that love endures beyond the physical world.

The artwork depicts a woman sitting alone on a serene beach, accompanied by an empty chair—a poignant symbol of the loved one she has lost. Surrounding her are ethereal silhouettes of angels, their presence representing the unseen forces that guide and comfort us in times of grief. Above the clouds, heaven is visible, serving as a beacon of hope and the ultimate reunion beyond this life.

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"Shed Your Skin" – Available On SuperRare
"Shed Your Skin" – Available On SuperRare

"Shed Your Skin" is a profound visual narrative of transformation, growth, and resilience, capturing the essence of beauty that arises from embracing change. The central figure, a woman covered with tattoos of butterflies and caterpillars, embodies the journey from burden to liberation. These tattoos transcend mere decoration; they are narratives etched into her skin, chronicling her past struggles and triumphs as she evolves.

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"Playing With the Dead" – Available On SuperRare
"Playing With the Dead" – Available On SuperRare

At first glance, this piece feels chaotic, surreal, cartoonish – but like a memory, it’s layered. This is a story about a memory – about the ghosts we’re told to bury becoming the ones who shape us. A quiet opera for the emotionally maimed.

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"The Gift of Imagination"
"The Gift of Imagination"

‘The Gift of Imagination’ delves into the interplay between perception, creativity, and reality, inviting viewers to explore the power of the mind to transcend even the harshest circumstances. This artwork unfolds across three distinct layers, each representing a facet of the woman’s experience.

The purple elements symbolize her subjective reality, where a surreal sky illuminates her world, offering a glimpse into her unique perspective. This dreamlike atmosphere reveals the depth of her mind’s eye—a realm where imagination flourishes beyond physical limitations.

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"Changes" – SOLD
"Changes" – SOLD

"Changes" – This artwork captures the essence of personal transformation through the intimate connection we share with music. When I was 20, "Miss Misery" by Elliott Smith was the song that marked a pivotal shift in my life. I remember hearing it in a small, intimate venue, the raw emotion in Smith's voice resonating with my own feelings of uncertainty and longing for something more. It was then I decided to move to Los Angeles, drawn by the dream of becoming an actor. The song's melancholy melody seemed to echo through the vibrant, sunlit cityscape behind the violinist in "Changes," each note pushing me towards a life filled with auditions, dreams, and endless possibilities.

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"Will Dance For Food" – SOLD
"Will Dance For Food" – SOLD

‘Will Dance For Food’ is a poignant 1/1 artwork that delves into the themes of hunger, inequality, and the stark disconnect between privilege and need. The title, an ironic plea for sustenance, underscores the desperation faced by those whose basic needs go unmet, contrasting the frivolity of abundance with the harsh realities of deprivation.

This piece is deeply personal, inspired by my time working at a hostel in Guatemala, where I earned just $2 per hour. Guests would often leave behind delicious food, yet I witnessed a striking inequality: two individuals were tasked with distributing leftovers, but they never offered any to me, despite my clear need. Even humorously hinting at my hunger was met with indifference. This experience became a visceral reminder of the disparity between those with excess and those who suffer in silence.

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David Masters
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"Neon Diaries" – Available On SuperRare